Campaigners are calling on the government to raise benefits in line with inflation and not to wait until next April to to ensure the poorest families do not go cold or hungry this winter.
Figures released today show that inflation is now at 10.1%. This reading is important for the Treasury as the figure is usually used as the benchmark to raise benefits and the state pension.
If the government decides to uprate benefits by inflation, 10.1% is the percentage they will be increased by and this will come into effect from next April.
But campaigners say Chancellor Jeremy Hunt should confirm today if benefits will be uprated in line with inflation – and is calling for the rises to be brought forward.
“It is morally indefensible that the government should still be considering leaving people with even less ability to pay for what they need, when their own party pledged to make sure the value of benefits keeps up with prices only months ago,” says Rebecca McDonald, chief economist at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Becca Lyon, head of child poverty at Save the Children, adds: “[The government] cannot wait until April – targeted support for low-income families is needed now to ensure children do not go hungry or cold this winter.”
Source: BBC